Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Appoint New Chairwoman Cindy Marchand

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation has officially welcomed a new leadership team following a swearing-in ceremony held on July 9. As reported by ICT and Underscore Native News, Cindy Marchand has been nominated as the next chairwoman of the tribe, succeeding Jarred-Michael Erickson. Marchand, an incumbent who was re-elected during this cycle, takes on the role after Erickson declined a nomination for another term as chairman to prioritize time with his family. Despite stepping down from the lead role, Erickson will continue to serve as a council member for the upcoming year. Neeka Somday, a legislative assistant and policy analyst for the Colville Tribes, told reporters that Marchand intends to focus on critical issues including land and water rights, the restoration of salmon in the Columbia River, and the economic prosperity of tribal members. Located on 1.4 million acres in northeast Washington state, the reservation is home to 12 tribal groups. The tribal business council also welcomed three newly elected members during the ceremony: Storey Jackson, Dorthey Zacherle, and Patty McClung-Adolph. They join re-elected incumbents Dustin Best, Shar Zacherle, and Dayna Seymour on the council, where terms are staggered to ensure leadership continuity. The ceremony also marked the retirement of Mel Tonasket, a prominent figure in Indigenous leadership who has served on the council intermittently since the 1970s. Somday described Tonasket as a "living legend" for his decades of service, which began with his opposition to the federal government's termination agenda. Marchand now looks to build on this legacy, aiming to advance generational goals during her tenure as chairwoman.